Photos taken with world’s first consumer camera: Kodak No. 1

The National Media Museum has released a series of photos captured with the world’s first consumer camera released in 1888, the Kodak No. 1.

Kodak used to be one of the biggest imaging companies in the world. Its downfall has begun after the invention of the digital camera when Kodak failed to launch one for consumers, while its competitors did not hesitate in seizing the chance.

World’s first consumer camera in the world was the Kodak No. 1

Before the 1980s, Kodak was an imaging powerhouse and knew how to do business. The American firm is credited with the launch of the first consumer camera in the world. The device has been released in 1888 under the name of “Kodak No. 1”.

The vintage device is made out of a wooden box covered in leather. If one were to look at it without knowing that it is a camera, then he would have trouble deciphering its purpose.

National Media Museum releases images taken with Kodak No. 1

Either way, the Kodak No. 1 remains an iconic device, which has sparked the photographic revolution. It was marketed as “You press the button, we do the rest”, which was a great slogan for a relatively affordable camera of that time.

In order to pay a tribute to this revolutionary apparatus, the National Media Museum has published a series of images captured with it. The photos have that amazing vintage look, which is always a joy to behold in a world dominated by digital photography.

The process of developing the photos was lengthy

Few people remember that the aforementioned slogan could not be further away from the truth. Simply pressing a button would definitely not capture a shot, as photographers have had to wind the film, pull a string to open the shutter, and then finally press the button to capture a photo.

Moreover, there was no viewfinder, meaning that users were shooting blindly and had to establish the framing by guessing. Think that was all? Well, think again, as after capturing 100 exposures, photographers were forced to ship the camera to Kodak to develop the film and change it with a brand new one.

The results consisted of a hundred prints shaped like a circle. Still, the technology was amazing for 1888 and the National Media Museum needs to be congratulated for releasing these photos.